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-J. A. WHITAKER.

CAN OPENER AND CLOSURE,

APPLICATION FILED JULY I0, Ian.

1,319,981. Patented Oct. 28,1919.

WITNESSES ATTO R N EY THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0, WASHINGTON, D, c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JONAS A. WHITAKER, 0F MATANUSKA, TERRITORY OF ALASKA.

CAN OPENER AND CLOSURE.

1 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JONAS A. WHITAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Matanuska, Territory of Alaska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can Openers and Closures, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in an attachment for cans and more particularly to a can opener and closure.

The primary object of the invention is the construction of such a device in such a manner that it may be easily attached to or detached from the can so that when one can is empty it may be placed upon another can.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for punching openings in a can and for closing the same after made.

A further object of the invention is the construction of the device in such a manner that it may be opened or raised for discharging the contents of the can and then replaced.

A still further object is the provision of means for automatically returning the closure after it has been opened for discharging the contents of the can.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel details of construction and arrangement of parts which will be more clearly understood from the following description and drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective showing my device in position upon a can prior to bending the connecting means.

Fig. 2 is a perspective illustrating my attachment after the connecting means has been bent into position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective showing the closure open for discharging the contents of the can.

Fig. 4 is a detailed perspective of the closure plate showing the bottom thereof, and

Fig. 5 is a perspective of the can encircling band. V

In the drawings the numeral 1 indicates a can of an ordinary construction and 2 the top thereof. My attachment comprises a band adapted to encircle the can and a closure plate adapted to be connected to the band. The band is indicated at 3 and is adapted to be bent around the can, adjacent the top thereof, as more particularly shown Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Oct, 28, 1919,

Application filed July 10,

1917. Serial No. 179,755.

in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings. The band .3 is provided, on the upper edge midway the ends, with an extension 4 which is provided with an elongated opening 5 and a tongue 6 is formed on the upper edge of the extension. The, closure plate is indicated at 7 and is preferably of the shape more particularly illustrated in Fig. 1- of the drawings. Tapered projections 8 are formed on the .,under side of the plate 7 the purpose of ffwhich will be presently described, and a ggtongue 9 is formed on the plate for the ,gpurpose as will be presently described.

In assembling my attachment the band 3 s previously stated, is bent to engage the:

can, adjacent the upper edge, and the closure i-plate 7 is placed over the top of the can {and the projections 8 forced through the top to form openings. The tongue 9 on the plate 7 is passed through the elongated opening 5, in the extension 4 of the band 3, and then bent downwardly to extend at an angle as is more clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The tongue 6 is then bent over to engage the top of the plate. When the several parts are in the position as above described the projections 8 extend into the openings which they have previously formed in the top of the can and, with the plate, form a closure for the openings. When it is desired to discharge the contents from the can the tongue 9, which is in the position illustrated in Fig. 2, is pressed downwardly by the thumb of the hand whereby the plate 7 will be raised drawing the projections 8 from the openings in the top of the can. The tongue 6 will act as a spring and be placed under tension when the plate is raised so that when the tongue 9 is disengaged it will force the plate back into its original position to close the openings. When the plate has been raised the contents are poured through one of the openings and the other opening will act as an air inlet whereby the contents will readily flow from the can.

From the above it will be seen that I have provided an attachment for a can which is simple and inexpensive in construction and which may be used with any number of different cans. When one can has been emptied it may be easily removed and placed upon another can. An attachment of this character is of particular advantage when used with cans containing condensed milk and the like as all of the contents are not used angle thereto, a plate engaged by said spring 15 at one time. I have provided means for finger and provided with piercing points on forming openings in the top of the can its underside, and an extension formed on whereby the contents may be discharged and said plate, passing through said opening,

5 have also formed means for closing the openand extending downwardly in an inclined ing whereby impurities are prevented from position whereby the plate is mounted on 20 entering the can. said band for pivotal movement only.

Having fully described my invention. what In testimony whereof I affix my signature I claim as new and desire to secure by Letin presence of two witnesses.

10 ters Patent is A can attachment comprising a band, a JONAS NHITAKER' vertical extension formed on the band hav- Witnesses: 111g an opening therein, a spring finger CHAS. MARINO, formed on said extension and bent at an IRA G. BROWN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, I). C. 

